Combined bed table and book holder



Nov. 1, 1938. w J] B E 2,134,810

COMBINED BED TABLE AND BOOK HOLDER Fi led Dec. 29, 1936 Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a Combined bedtable and book-holder which provides comfort and facilities for persons who wish to read while lying down. The book-holding portion thereof 5 may be embedded in the supporting surface of the bed-table, leaving the supporting surface of the bed-table practically smooth and free from obstructions, and permitting the use of the device as an ordinary bed-table for eating, writing, etc.

The object of this. invention is to provide a combined bed-table andbook-holder which permits reading in comfort while lying on ones back as well as when sitting up, eliminating tiring ones hands, arms, and neck, and straining 151his eyes and'causing a headache by focusing the eyes in a dropped position as when resting the book on ones chest.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combined bed-table and book-holder which consists of a minimum of parts, requires a minimum of adjustments, and provides a maximum of facilities and comfort.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the combined bed-table and book-holder;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device adjusted for reading while lying down; 30.

the device, the parts being adjusted for reading While lying down; i

Figure 5 is a sectional perspective view showing a fragmentary portion of the front central portion of the shelf and upturned lip thereof;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3; I

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a portion of the'shelf showing one of the adjustable lips at the front edge of the shelf in an expanded position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the table showing the grooves formed therein for receiving the supporting frame and shelf;

Figure 9 is an edge elevation of the table looking at the inner or lower edge thereof.

This device consists of a bed-table having embedded in its supporting surface I a book-holder comprising a shelf 2 having a supporting frame 3, consisting of a T-shaped member, vertically slidably and adjustably supported at the front central portion of the said shelf 2 by means of a clip 4 carried by the said shelf 2. The shelf 2 is slidably and adjustably supported in an elongated horizontal slot 5 in the lower or distal por- Figure 4 is a central vertical sectional view of.

tion of the supporting surface I as shown in Figs.

1, 2, 3 and 8. The shelf 2 is held in adjusted position in the slot 5 by means of set-screws 6.

The supporting surface I has therein a groove "i above the slot 5 as shown in Figs. 2 arid 3, 5

whichis parallel to and which longitudinally intersects the slot 5 throughout the entire length thereof. The said groove I matches, receives, and embeds therein flush with the supporting surface I, the up-turned vertically adjustable lips 8 at the front edge of the shelf 2 when the shelf 2 is wholly inserted within the slot 5. The supporting surface I has therein beneath the central portion of the slot 5 a recess 9, the opening of which is in the lower edge of the slot 5 and the supporting surface I. The said recess 9 matches and receives therein the clip I when the shelf 2 is wholly inserted within the slot 5. I

The supporting surface I has therein two grooves I0, linearly related to each other, bisectingly and perpendicularly intersecting the slot 5, and extending above and below the slot 5 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The supporting surface I has therein a horizontal groove I I in the upper central portion thereof, perpendicularly and bisectedly intersecting the above mentioned groove II] which extends in the upper central'portion of the supporting surface I as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The last mentioned grooves I0 and II match and receive therein the supporting frame 3, embedding the supporting frame 3 flush with the supporting surface I, practically eliminating obstructions thereon.

The supporting surface I bears thereon two horizontal outwardly projecting flanges I2, one on each side of the recess 9, and linearly related to each other as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, which serve as a rest for reading matter, and which also serve in protecting the set-screw I3 on the clip I 'from possible damage.

The set-screws 6 which hold the shelf 2 in adjusted position extend through the wood underneath the supporting surface I to the slot 5. The set-screws 6 are placed in daps I4 in the lower edge of the supporting surface I, as shown in Figs. I 1 and 3, in order to protect them from possible damage, and in order to-eliminate obstructions from the edge of the supporting surface I. The set-screws 6 are supported by metal plates I5, 50 having therein threaded apertures matching the threads on the set-screws 6. The metal plates I5 are hired in the daps I4 with wood screws I6.

The upeturned vertically adjustable lips 8 at the front edge of the shelf 2,bear vertically slid- 55 able extensions 11 which are cross-sectionally U-shaped and fit tightly over the said lips 8 and are composed of resilient sheet metal; thereby the tension of the metal is utilized in retaining the vertically slidable extensions I! in adjusted position on the said lips 8. The said lips 8 have therein vertical slots l8. The vertically slidable extensions I! have impressed therein matching indentations [9 which match and fit into the vertical slots l8, thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the vertically slidable extensions l1 and preventing the vertically slidable extensions I! from being easily removed therefrom. The vertically slidable extensions I'I each bear outwardly turned lugs 20 at the lower edge thereof, as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and '7, which aid in adjusting the said vertically slidable extensions H to the desired positions with ones fingers.

The book 2| is indicatedby the dotted lines in Fig. 3. The book 2| is supported at the lower edge thereof where there is no print by the shelf I and lips 8. The book 2| is supported at the upper edge where there is no print by the horizontal section of the supporting frame 3. The book 2| is supported in the central portion thereof where there is no print by the vertical section of the supporting frame 3; thus the book 2| is provided with perfect support without interfering with the vision of the print.

The description and drawing relating thereto should be taken as illustrative or diagrammatic rather than limiting me to the precise description herein.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A combined bed-table and book-holder comprising a supporting surface adapted to act as a book-holder in inclined position and as a table in horizontal position, a shelf, means at the loW- er edge of said supporting surface for mounting said shelf for sliding movement perpendicularly to said supporting surface into adjusted position relative thereto, means for holding said shelf in said adjusted positions, a book-engaging lip at the front edge of said shelf, a book-holder overlying said supporting surface, means mounting said book-holder on said shelf, said book-holder including means for holding the central portions of a book, and means for holding the upper leaves of a book extended for reading and grooves in said supporting surface corresponding to said shelf, said lip, and said book-holder, whereby in the inwardmost adjustment of said shelf, said lip, and said book-holder will be substantially embedded in said supporting surface, providing an unobstructed table surface.

2. A combined bed-table and book-holder comprising a supporting surface adapted to act as a book-holder in an inclined position and as a table in a horizontal position, a shelf adjustable transversely of the supporting surface, means for looking the shelf in an adjusted position, a book-engaging means at the outer edge of said shelf having extension means increasing the width of said book-engaging means, a book-holder overlying said supporting surface, means mounting said book-holder on said shelf, said book-holder including book-engaging means and leaf-engaging means, and said supporting surface having recess means formed therein for receiving said bookholder and shelf, whereby in the inwardmost adlustment of said shelf and book-holder the shelf and book-holder will be substantially embedded in said supporting surface, providing an unobstructed table surface.

3. A combined bed-table and book-holder comprising a supporting surface adapted to act as a book-holder in an inclined position and as a table in a horizontal position, a shelf adjustable transversely of the supporting surface, means for locking the shelf in an adjusted position, a bookengaging lip at the front edge of said shelf, outwardly adjustable extensions carried by said lip, said lip having elongated channels formed transversely of the lip, said extensions having indentations fitting in said channels for limiting the adjustment of said extensions upon said lip and preventing longitudinal movement with respect to the lip, means for facilitating the gripping of the extensions by the fingers of an operator, a book-holder overlying said supporting surface, means mounting said book-holder on said shelf, said book-holder including book-engaging means and leaf-engaging means, and said supporting surface having recess means formed therein for receiving said book-holder and shelf, whereby in the inwardmost adjustment of said shelf and book-holder, the shelf and book-holder will be substantially embedded in said supporting surface, providing an unobstructed table surface.

4. A combined bed-table and book-holder comprising a supporting surface adapted to act as a book-holder in an inclined position and as a table in a horizontal position, a shelf adjustable transversely of the supporting surface, means for locking the shelf in an adjusted position, a bookengaging lip at the front edge of said shelf, outwardly adjustable extensions carried by said lip, said lip having elongated slots formed transversely of the lip, said extensions having indentations fitting in said slots for limiting the adjustment of said extensions upon said lip and. preventing longitudinal movement with respect to the lip, outwardly turned lugs formed upon said extension members for facilitating the gripping of the extension members by the fingers of the operator, the extension members being U-shaped in crosssection overlapping said lip, a book-holder overlying said supporting surface, means mounting said book-holder on said shelf, said book-holder including book-engaging means and leaf-engaging means, and said supporting surface having recess means formed therein for receiving said book-holder and shelf, whereby in the inwardmost adjustment of said shelf and book-holder, the shelf and book-holder will be substantially embedded in said supporting surface, providing an unobstructed table surface.

5. A combination bed-table and book-holder comprising a supporting surface adapted to act as a book holder in an inclined position and as a table in a horizontal position, a shelf adjustable transversely of the supporting surface, means for holding the shelf in an adjusted position, a book-engaging means carried at the outer edge of the shelf, a book-holder overlying said sup- WILLIAM J. BOYLE. 

